John R. Riley III, 68 of Worcester, passed away February 1st in UMass Memorial Medical Center – University Campus, after a long battle with dementia. John was born on October 6, 1954 in Lowell to John R. Riley II and Patricia Anne (Morris) Riley, who predeceased him. He leaves four sisters; Patricia Hayes and her husband, Bob of Westport, Joan Greenwich and her husband, Ed of Boxford, Janice Harradon and her husband, Mike of Chelmsford, and Debbie Duggan and her husband, Bill of Concord; many nieces and nephews; and his soulmate and longtime companion, Lynn M. Chabot of Worcester.
John was a self-taught musician, percussionist, musical historian, teacher, actor, story teller, and a natural entertainer. He grew up in Woburn and moved to Worcester following high school graduation. John played in many bands, toured extensively and recorded on many albums with Joe Cocker and American Standard, Tornado Alley, Big Dawg, The Heartbeats, and Jubilee Gardens. He was as comfortable playing the Blue Plate as he was at Carnegie Hall. He also worked at the Sheraton Lincoln for 35 years, as it is almost impossible to survive as a musician in the United States without a day job. He was very philanthropic and always supporting his friends any way he could; a ferocious Red Sox fan.
We would like to thank the Worcester Police Department, Fire Department, EMT’s and all his doctors and nurses at UMass for the kind, compassionate care he received, as well as his very close friends for their support through it all.
His calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 12th from noon until 2:00 p.m. at O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue. Burial is private. A celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please send memorial contributions to Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or Hungry for Music, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, #384 Washington, DC 20006.